House Concurrent Resolution 98

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE OF MR. CALVIN
BRUCE GURNER AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS
PASSING.

WHEREAS, Mr. Calvin Bruce Gurner departed
this life on February 18, 2002, causing great sorrow and loss to his family and
friends; and

WHEREAS, a native of Water Valley,
Mississippi, Mr. Gurner was born January 1, 1920, to Mr. B.G. and Mrs. Jane
Gurner; and

WHEREAS, attending the Water Valley public
school system, Mr. Gurner graduated from Water Valley High School in 1936, and
attended Holmes Junior College in Goodman before going to Paducah, Kentucky,
where he became a machinist apprentice with Illinois Central Railroad's
locomotive shop; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gurner became a fireman in
1941, working there until joining the Army Air Corps later in that year,
spending a majority of his service with the 11th Weather Squadron in the
Aleutian Islands; and

WHEREAS, after the war's end, Mr. Gurner
returned to Kentucky, working the Kentucky Division of Illinois Central Railroad
until 1945, when he took leave to enter the University of Mississippi, earning
his bachelor's degree in geology in 1948, and later earning his master's degree
in education; and

WHEREAS, teaching at University High School
and Oxford High School while working on the railroad during summers and
holidays, Mr. Gurner decided to railroad full time from 1965 to 1967, being
promoted to engineer in 1966 before returning to the educational setting as a
guidance counselor at Charleston in 1967; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gurner, whose interest in
railroading began in the late 1920s, began the hobby of collecting railroad
memorabilia in 1955, when the Water Valley depot was being torn down; and

WHEREAS, upon discovering 92 train sheets
listing the famous railroader, Casey Jones, Mr. Gurner spent the next 50 years
researching the legend and the Mississippi Division of the Illinois Central
Railroad, which was headquartered in Water Valley; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gurner, throughout the 1970s
was active in many historical projects, compiling information for the Yalobusha
County History book and also a book of his own entitled "Casey Jones and
the Wreck at Vaughn"; and

WHEREAS, an avid outdoorsman and Yalobusha
County's Veteran's Administration representative for 12 years, Mr. Gurner
joined the First Baptist Church of Water Valley in 1939, and taught the men's
Bible class for more than 45 years; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gurner married the former
Betty Jo Evans on May 6, 1950, and to their sacred union, six children were
born: Bill Gurner, Hugh Gurner, Richard
Gurner, Melissa Gurner Burrell, Robert Gurner and Joe Gurner; and

WHEREAS, the memories of Mr. Gurner will
continue to live on in the hearts of his loving and devoted wife, six children,
twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this
Legislature to pay special tribute to the life of such an outstanding
individual as Mr. Calvin Bruce Gurner, whose historical contributions to the
people of Water Valley and Yalobusha County has had a profound impact on the
lives of many:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN,
That we do hereby commend the life of Mr. Calvin Bruce Gurner and extend our
deepest sympathy to his family and friends upon his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this
resolution be furnished to the family of Mr. Calvin Bruce Gurner and the
members of the Capitol Press Corps.